Man arrested with cache of guns, explosives

Investigators are trying to determine the man’s intent

January 06. 2014 5:15PMMac Cordell Press Editor

An Indiana man is in the Tri-County Regional Jail on a $1 million bond following his arrest with four guns and nearly 50 bombs.

Andrew Scott Boguslawski, 43, of Morris Hill, Ind., is being held, charged with one count of illegal manufacture or processing explosives, a felony of the second degree. He is set for a preliminary hearing Friday, Jan 10.

“I think there is a significant risk to the public,” said Assistant Madison County Prosecutor Nick Adkins, explaining the million dollar bond. “Until we can sort through the facts of this case and what we have here and what his intent was, it is necessary to keep the public safe.”

Boguslawski was stopped by troopers about 11:41 p.m., Jan. 1, on I-70 in Madison County. According to court documents he was stopped by Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper William Davis allegedly driving 85 miles per hour in a 70 mile per hour zone.

“He asked the driver if there was any weapons in the vehicle,” said Adkins.

The prosecutor said the trooper was prompted to ask about weapons because of several bumper stickers on Boguslawski’s car —specifically a sticker warning “If you can read this, you’re in range.”

Boguslawski told the trooper there were no guns in the vehicle. Davis went to write the man a ticket and when he returned to the car, he noticed the handle of a gun between the man’s knees.

“At that point, he drew his service weapon, held the man there and called for backup,” said Adkins.

When help arrived, Boguslawski was taken from the vehicle, which was searched. Investigators found four guns — two pistols and two rifles — as well as 48 explosive devices and tools and materials to make additional explosives.

“Most concerning to me was that they found a remote detonating device,” said Adkins.

He added, “The majority of the devices, I would not classify as high tech, but some of the devices were set up to be activated with the remote detonator.”

Investigators are now trying to determine what Boguslawski had planned.

He did not make any type of statement,” said Adkins. “He did not want to make any statement.”

Boguslawski works in Indiana at a training facility for Navy Seals, Adkins said. The prosecutor said Boguslawski had schematics and other plans for buildings that are part of that training facility. Adkins said the man was driving west toward Indiana at the time of the arrest.

Investigators removed a laptop, a GPS system and a camera.

“We are hopeful they will reveal some indication what his intent was,” said Adkins.

Investigators are working through a search warrant for those items. Law enforcement officials have executed a search warrant for the man’s Indiana home.

“We are reviewing the information as it comes in and considering how we are going to proceed,” said Adkins. “We have several options.”

The assistant prosecutor said the Ohio Fire Marshall, The Ohio State Highway Patrol, the federal division of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms as well as the U.S. Department of Justice, have participated in the investigation.

“There is discussion whether Madison County will handle this or whether it will be handled at the federal level,” said Adkins. “Really, that decision comes down to what we find when we process the GPS, camera and laptop.”

He said investigators are “looking for a link to any known terrorist operations and to identify the intended target.”